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lii reference to the closing phrases of this section I consider that it should be appreciated by all concerned that to establish an organization capable of fulfilling the full requirements of the retail meat industry of to-day, such as have been recommended more than once in the pages of the majority report, is 110 matter to be entered into lightly as it would involve considerable capital outlay where abattoirs are outmoded and inefficient and not capable of fulfilling the functions of a meat-processing works such as would be required to carry out a possible future policy as is indicated in this section. When considered in the light of the above comments it would appear that the regulations governing the functions of abattoirs and their establishment require reviewing and amendment so that such abattoirs may operate in the manner required of them by the retail-meat industry of to-day and of the future. General Summary Before closing this report I consider it necessary to comment on the many intricate problems which are an integral part of the retail-meat industry as it is today. The lack of knowledge of these problems on the. part of many who were associated with the Commission of Inquiry was most evident as the inquiry proceeded, and I strongly advocate the establishment of a closer relationship between the retail-meat industry and other affected or interested parties. I consider such a relationship to be both desirable and necessary as the technique or practices of the retail-meat industry are of considerable importance in the economic life and structure of the Dominion, as its function is primarily to provide consumer service on an efficient and economic basis. I view with concern the changing conditions of marketing systems, the method of purchase, and the processing of meat generally, all of which are inevitable if consumer demands are to be met. These changes must affect trading conditions, and I consider they should be watched closely during the transitionary stages. It is apparent that many of the problems which exist to-day can be directly attributed to failure on the part of the authorities to adjust conditions such as have been referred to during the course of this inquiry. The major points noted are — (!) Retail price order to-day has no longer any basic relationship to that price order which was introduced in 1940. (2) Meat-grading lacks adequate supervision and is noticeably lacking in uniformity of application. (3) Municipal abattoirs make no provision for the processing of meat past the stage of slaughter and inspection. (4) Freezing-works exceeding export-schedule prices during the export season and the wholesaling of carcass meat which has been purchased on an uncontrolled live-stock market to a distributive industry which is subject to retail-sales price-control. I would recommend that a Committee should be established whose members would be drawn from the authorities concerned, and whose function would be — (1) To advise the Government on all matters relating to the retail-meat industry. (2) To collaborate and co-operate with the Departments of Health and Agriculture on all matters affecting the retail-meat industry, including the abattoirs ; also the Standards Institute on matters affecting the defining of grades of meat used in the processing of meat for retail distribution, and all other matters relevant to the functions of that Division. (3) To collaborate and co-operate with the Marketing Department in the making of periodic surveys of the availability of fresh-meat supplies and the allocating of frozen-meat supplies to such areas as may be required.

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